Chapter 24: Attracting Wealth, Treasuring Riches, and Seeking Blessings

Naturally, Meng Fan was itching to experiment with the second application of the Beast Gathering and Fowl Controlling technique.

He had trained a few "exotic beasts," though these were merely practice runs. They weren't true exotic beasts in the traditional sense; they simply possessed certain specialized traits.

There was a Li Hua cat, which Meng Fan named "Zhaocai" (Fortune-Bringer).

Using the Fowl Controlling technique, he absorbed the essence of energy from steel, refined it into metallic essence, and integrated it into the cat's claws, resulting in four razor-sharp steel talons.

As for why he chose a Li Hua cat, the reason was simple: they possess strong predatory instincts and hunting capabilities, unlike pet cats that only know how to act cute. While a Li Hua cannot compare to leopards or other wild feline predators, it was the best specimen Meng Fan could find among the local stray cats.

Meng Fan had considered replacing the cat's entire skeleton with steel, but its musculature wouldn't allow it. Once the bones were replaced with steel, their weight would inevitably increase, drastically reducing the cat's agility.

Initially, after replacing the four claws, Meng Fan clearly noticed that the cat’s movements were slower than before. It only returned to normal after a period of adaptation. This meant that the cat needed much stronger muscles to support the added weight of a steel skeleton. Furthermore, when adjusting the muscle ratio, he had to prioritize flexibility—the muscles needed to be resilient, not rigid or "dead." He imagined something akin to the physique of an Incineroar.

Although the Beast Gathering and Fowl Controlling technique is rare, the knowledge of how to precisely calibrate the proportions of various genes was something ancestors had spent countless hours and countless experiments to discover. Meng Fan called this ratio the "Genetic Sequence."

Due to his lack of understanding of various genes and biological traits, as well as his shallow knowledge base, Meng Fan realized that working in isolation was not enough. His obsession with further education grew stronger. He was desperate to improve!

The only genetic ratio recorded in the Beast Gathering and Fowl Controlling technique was that of the Flower Fox Ferret. And the genetic sequence for this creature was something no one could have imagined.

In the *Investiture of the Gods*, it is recorded that the Flower Fox Ferret could manifest as a white elephant with wings on its ribs, but it actually utilized an incredibly obscure biological gene. If not for the records left by Mo Lishou, Meng Fan would never have believed it.

The genetic composition of the Flower Fox Ferret:
The base is a marten or ferret; it is supplemented by avian and elephant genes. Among birds, the fastest and most magnificent are preferred; among elephants, those with massive frames like mountains are best!

But the final ingredient was, surprisingly, a tardigrade!

In Mo Lishou's records, it was described as follows: "In my observations, I gazed upon the subtle and mysterious realms. Through deep insight, I discovered a strange insect, extremely minute, with a bizarre form. It is chubby like a bear, yet resembles the legendary Chaos. It is invisible to the naked eye, possesses four segments and eight feet, with claws at the ends, and fears neither water nor fire..."

Mo Lishou used these tardigrades as "fusion material" to create the Flower Fox Ferret. Being so difficult to kill, it was no wonder the people of Xiqi suffered so much because of it. As for the metallic essence used to forge the beast, the records were brief, simply stating that it used meteorite iron from beyond the heavens.

However, while the Flower Fox Ferret's genetic sequence was miraculous, it couldn't be applied to every animal. What if the genes collapsed, or he ended up creating a grotesque, mismatched monster? Meng Fan sometimes wondered if the fish with wings or chicken legs mentioned in the *Classic of Mountains and Seas* were simply the products of failed experiments. Then again, maybe they were just species created by someone who wanted to taste both chicken and fish at the same time. After all, everyone knows the *Classic of Mountains and Seas* is essentially a cookbook.

Besides the Li Hua cat, Meng Fan also trained a slender white hound, which he named "Jinbao" (Treasure-Gatherer).

The white hound was bought specifically by "Old Meng" to ensure Meng Fan wouldn't be lonely and to help him protect himself using his skills as a beast master. After all, it is quite difficult to find a dedicated hunting breed among stray dogs.

For this dog, Meng Fan used his existing resources to infuse it with certain genes related to the cat’s musculature. While retaining the dog's endurance, he increased its muscle vitality and jumping ability. The combination allowed the white hound to run faster with explosive power. Additionally, Meng Fan modified the dog's teeth, absorbing the essence of copper and iron to forge "iron teeth and copper fangs."

With Zhaocai and Jinbao, Meng Fan had his two primary guardians.

Beyond them, Meng Fan specifically tamed a crow named "Qifu" (Prayer for Blessings). He granted it the eyesight of an eagle and the speed of a falcon for aerial combat, along with sharp talons and a sturdy beak, just like Zhaocai and Jinbao.

As for the bees, it was a whim. Reminded of the jade bees raised by Little Dragon Maiden in *The Return of the Condor Heroes*, he impulsively used the Fowl Controlling technique to combine them with crushed jade powder. He also added some aloe vera genes to incorporate its beautifying properties.

The result was a few crystalline, jade-like queen bees. The eggs they produced were like polished jade with a faint light-green hue. The honey brewed by these jade bees was also different—a pale green amber color.

Meng Fan tried it for a while and felt his skin glowing and incredibly hydrated. Now, it has become a favorite of his stepmother, Auntie Luo. As for the scrutiny from "Naiduotong" (the delivery company/secret organization), they were just bees, harmless and unremarkable. Even if they were special, they wouldn't attract too much attention. Besides, the honey only shows effects after long-term consumption. Even if they noticed that Auntie Luo and Old Meng looked healthier, they would likely just assume it was the glow of a happy marriage.

Meng Fan gained a new understanding of the Beast Gathering and Fowl Controlling technique. It turned out that the "ten thousand living creatures" described by Mo Lishou really included everything in heaven and earth. As long as it is alive—not limited to animals or plants—its genetic fragments can be aggregated and modulated.

This opened up a new line of thinking for Meng Fan. Perhaps he was holding a treasure trove of wealth in his hands. However, before opening this vault, he needed the strength to match it.

Now, with a few exotic beasts protecting him, Meng Fan finally had the confidence to venture into the world of *Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils*. If he wanted to cultivate a Flower Fox Ferret, the first step would be an exotic ferret, and Meng Fan already had a target in mind: the Lightning Ferret owned by Zhong Ling!